IDF attack in the Gaza Strip after rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip at the Gaza envelope, April 5, 2023 (documentation on social networks according to section 27A of the Copyright Law)
The IDF launched Operation Shield and Arrow at 2:15 a.m. on Tuesday night, when 40 fighter jets, drones and helicopters began airstrikes in the Gaza Strip simultaneously and three senior Islamic Jihad officials were eliminated in various locations in less than a minute.
In Gaza City, Khalil Bahtini, commander of the northern area of the terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip, and Tareq Izz al-Din, who was in charge of the organization's connection in Gaza with the organization's terrorists in Judea and Samaria, were assassinated. At the same time, Jihad Inam, one of the senior and veteran operatives of the terrorist organization, who served as secretary of the organization's military council, was thwarted in Rafah.
Three different arenas, in a matter of seconds. Senior Islamic Jihad operatives killed tonight (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)
"This is a very complex airstrike in the heart of the built-up area," IDF Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari explained. "It's about professionalism in planning and precision in execution. There is planning here with tweezers, an assault on the heart of one of the most densely populated populations in the world."
He said the three were killed in the apartments they were in, with seconds passing between attacks. He also said that intelligence gathering around the three had already begun during the month of Ramadan, but so far the operational conditions had not been ripe to carry out the assassinations. As a result, the launch of the operation was postponed from Tuesday, after the massive rocket fire into the Gaza envelope.
"We got what we wanted," the IDF Spokesperson added. This operation is focused on Islamic Jihad. We also attacked rocket manufacturing targets. We carried out a very focused operation here with a very clear message, at the quality level of very focused collateral damage."
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The house of Jahad Inam after his assassination. Rafah, tonight (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)
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Bhitini was the senior operational commander in the organization and the person behind the shooting at the Gaza Strip last month. According to the IDF, he planned another shooting in the near future. Among other things, Bhitini was responsible for approving and carrying out all terrorist attacks from the northern Gaza Strip, and was involved in directing and planning terrorist attacks in Israel's home front. He was also a member of the Jihad's Military Council and had direct contact with senior officials in the organization's political bureau.
Izz al-Din, originally from Arabeh in Samaria, was responsible for directing Islamic Jihad activities in Judea and Samaria and planned and promoted terrorist attacks. Among other things, he is behind the shooting at Joseph's Tomb in June 2022. Inam, who was also responsible for coordinating and transferring funds and weapons between the organization and Hamas, previously held several key positions, including head of the southern region. Among other things, he is responsible for the attack in which Tali Hatuel and her four daughters were murdered in 2004.
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